Reply by Will Mego

I have gotten good results whilst not taking 24 hours, but at least several, 24 doesn’t hurt at all. I don’t think I’d apply a finish while wood glue was still wet no matter the finish. Despite the pain, I’d still probably finish the inside of the box post-assembly. I made a fairly nice huge box from yellow pine, hit it with cherry gel stain, 4 coats of arm-r-seal, and finished with paste wax, but I didn’t finish the inside.